Method and apparatus for automatically and continuously
determining- the circumference and pressure drop
of a tobacco smoke filter rod preferably
composed of cellulose acetate fiber

ABSTRACT

DISCLOSED IS A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLY MEASURING THE CIRCUMFERENCE AND PRESSURE DROP OF A TOBACCO SMOKE FILTER ROD PREFERABLY COMPOSED OF CELLULOSE ACETATE FIBER. IN THIS INVENTION A PLURALITY OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTER RODS OF CELLULOSE ACETATE FIBER ARE STORED IN A STORAGE LOCATION AND SUBSEQUENTLY AUTOMATICALLY TRANSPORTED FROM THE STORAGE LOCATION TO A PRESSURE DROP MEASURING ZONE WHEREIN THE PRESSURE DROP OF THE ROD IS AUTOMATICALLY MEASURED. THE ROD IS THEN AUTOMATICALLY TRANSPORTED TO A CIRCUMFERENCE MEASURING ZONE WHEREIN THE CIRCUMFERENCE IS AUTOMATICALLY MEASURED. THE ROD IS THEN AUTOMATICALLY TRANSPORTED AWAY FROM THE CORCUMFERENCE MEASURING ZONE. THE METHOD AND APPARATUS OF THIS INVENTION ADVANTAGEOUSLY REDUCES THE TIME NECESSARY TO CONDUCT SIMILAR MEASUREMENTS USING CONVENTIONAL PRESSURE DROP AND CIRCUMFERENCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT THAT IS NOT AUTOMATIC AND CONTNUOUS IN CHARACTER.

DEFENSIVE PUBHCATWN UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK orrr'on Published at the request of the applicant or owner in accordance with the Notice of Dec. 16,1969, 869 0G. 687. The abstracts of Defensive Publication applications are identified by distinctly numbered series and are arranged chronologically. The heading of each abstract indicates the number of pages of specification, including claims and sheets of drawings contained in the application as originally filed. The files of these applications are available to the public for inspection and reproduction may be purchased for 30 cents a sheet.

Defensive Publication applications have not been examined as to the merits of alleged invention. The Patent and Trademark Oilice makes no assertion as to the novelty of the disclosed subject matter.

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2, 1975 19333310 METHQD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATI- CALILY AND CSNIENUSUSLY DETERMINING THE CHRCUMFELIENCE AND PRESSURE DROP OF A TGBACOU SMOKE FILTER ROD PREFER- ABLY 0F CELLULUSE AQETATE FEBER Robert G. Wrye, Rte. 13, 45633 Grace Drive, Kingsport, Tenn. 37664 Continuation of application Ser. No. 379M932, Sept. 20, 1973, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 290,295, Sept. 19, 1972, now abandoned. This application Aug. 22, 1974, Scr. No. 499,749

Int. Cl. G01!) 13/08; Gliln 15/08 US. Cl. 7337.5 4 Sheets Drawing. 13 Pages Specification Disclosed is a method and apparatus for automatically and continuously measuring the circumference and pressure drop of a tobacco smoke filter rod preferably composed of cellulose acetate fiber. In this invention a plurality of tobacco smoke filter rods of cellulose acetate fiber are stored in a storage location and subsequently automatically transported from the storage location to a pressure drop measuring zone wherein the pressure drop of the rod is automatically measured. The rod is then automatically transported to a circumference measuring zone wherein the circumference is automatically measurcd. The rod is then automatically transported away from the circumference measuring zone. The method and apparatus of this invention advantageously reduces the time necessary to conduct similar measurements using conventional pressure drop and circumference measuring equipment that is not automatic and continuous in character.

Sept. 2, 1975 w T938,010

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLY DETERMINING THE CIRCUMFERENCE AND PRESSURE DROP OF A TOBACCO SMOKE FILTER ROD PREFERABLY GOMPOSED OF CELLULOSE ACETATE FIBER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 19, 1972 Sept. 2, 1975 MEIEWJJ All! MIPARATUS FOR R. G. NRYE DETERMINING THE CIRCUMFERENCE AND PRESSURE DROP VACUUM PUMP MOTOR SWITCH II9 TIMING MOTOR SWITCH I2I PRESSURE DROP MEASUREMENT E CALIBRATION SWITCH I27 OF A TOBACCO SMOKE FILTER ROD PREFERABLY GOMPOSED OF CELLULOSE ACETATE FIBER Original Filed Sept. 19, 1972 F -Q;- l N I 2 9 I I K1 E N PRESSURE DROP MEASUREMENT K: m TEST SWITCH I25 U B L 1 i o CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENTMH {3 TEST SWITCH I23 g I l I I I; EV

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VACUUM PUMP MOTOR LIGHT I20 VACUUM PUMP MOTOR TIMING MOTOR LIGHT I22 TIMING MOTOR ZERO RESET SWITCH READ PRESSURE DROP MEASURING MANOMETER LIGHTI28 READ CIRCUMFERENCE MEASURING MANOMETER LIGHTI29 HOLD PRESSURE DROP MANOMETER PRESSURE DROP BLOWOUT JET ISOLATE PRESSURE DROP MEASURING MANOMETER PUSH RODS PRESSURE DROP MEASUREMENT FEED JET PRESSURE DROP MEASUREMENT TEST LIGHT I26 PRESSURE DROP MEASURING MEANS DIAPHRAGM COLLAPSE PRESSURE DROP MEASURING MEANS DIAPHRAM CONTROL CIRCUMFERENCE MEASUREMENT TEST LIGHT I24 RESTRAINING PIN Sept. 2, 1975 w T938,010

AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY AND CONTINU OUSLY METHOD DETERMINING THE CIRCUMFERENCE AND PRESSURE DROP OF A TOBACCO SMOKE FILTER ROD PREFERABLY COMPOSED OF CELLULOSE ACETATE FIBER 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

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